Who is Andy Burnham? As Labour include Greater Manchester Mayor in Makerfield by-election candidate selection, a look at Sir Keir Starmer’s challenger

The way is being paved for Andy Burnham to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership after the party’s ruling body confirmed the Greater Manchester Mayor will be among potential candidates to stand in the Makerfield by-election.

The 56-year-old declared he would seek permission from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to contest the by-election after the current MP, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday (May 15) he would quit Parliament to make way for Mr Burnham. If successful, Mr Burnham is widely expected to challenge the Prime Minister for the party leadership.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee has today given permission to Andy Burnham to stand in the candidate selection process in the forthcoming by-election for the Makerfield constituency.”

Applications for the selection process opened on Friday (May 15) and will close on Monday, the NEC has decided. Mr Burnham’s previous bid to contest a by-election, in Gorton and Denton, was rejected by an NEC’s officers committee, which included Sir Keir.

Andy Burnham's wife

Andy and Dutch-born Marie-France Van Heel, known as Frankie, married in 2000 after meeting at university. The pair both studied at Fitzwilliam College at Cambridge University.

For most of her career, Frankie has worked as a brand consultant previously working for companies such as BSkyB. She was CEO of design agency Heavenly, which has created logos for clients including HSBC, England Rugby, and the BBC.

Fun fact, in 1992 Frankie appeared on ITV show Blind Date after asking boyfriend Andy’s permission. It didn’t go well though and during her trip to Gibraltar with Will Harris from Surrey, the pair argued with Frankie telling Will to 'try and look attractive' and Will later describing her as a 'cold fish' on their return.

Andy and Frankie share three children together, son Jimmy, and daughters Rosie and Annie.

Where is Andy Burnham from?

Andy was born in the Liverpool suburb of Aintree and grew up in Culcheth in Cheshire. He attended St Aelred's Catholic High School before heading off to university in Cambridge.

Is Andy Burnham left or right?

Andy joined the Labour Party at the age of 15 and identifies as a socialist with his 2010 leadership bid Burnham emphasising his philosophy of "aspirational socialism". A strong opponent of nationalism, he has described as an "ugly brand of politics".

He told Andrew Marr in 2010 he was proud of his association with New Labour although as Mayor of Greater Manchester, has rejected the approach taken by New Labour on housing and transport. However, Andy has remained committed to New Labour's "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" approach. Politically, Andy places himself on the soft left of the Labour Party.